Recruiting Analysis: Defensive Line

Don Callahan

08/23/2006

If you check Inside Carolina's Recruiting Board each day, you already have an accurate and updated overview of UNC's recruiting efforts. Now, get a closer look as IC updates its position-by-position board breakdown.

End

2006 Depth Chart

Left

#

Name

Ht

Wt

Cl/El

Rk

42

Brian Rackley

6-5

270

Gr/Sr

NR

85

E.J Wilson

6-2

260

So/Fr

NR

98

Darrius Massenburg

6-4

260

Fr/Fr

40

40

Darius Powell

6-2

220

Fr/Fr

NR

Right

#

Name

Ht

Wt

Cl/El

Rk

58

Melik Brown

6-2

260

Sr/Sr

67

33

Hilee Taylor

6-3

241

Jr/Jr

33 (LB)

89

Bowen Chapman*

6-3

245

Jr/Jr

NR

Defensive end is one of the higher priorities with the 2007 recruiting class,
given the fact that North Carolina loses four players from this unit the next
two years, including Rackley and Brown (potential starters) after this season.
The coaching staff plans to include between 2-3 defensive ends on February's
signing list.

Since receiving a UNC offer as a junior, Chavis has favored the Tar Heels even
after Wake Forest and Virginia Tech extended offers. A few weeks after camping
at UNC, Chavis sealed the deal.

After being rule ineligible to play for his
high school team, Chavis decided to go the prep school route and will be the
only true high school senior on Hargrave's Post Grad team this fall.

A combine warrior, Chavis is very athletic for his size. He's a
high motor guy who combines a excellent blend of speed and strength in his
pass rushing.

As a junior at Fayetteville (N.C.) Sanford, Chavis
starred at defensive end where he was named to the All-Conference team for the
second straight year.

Targets With Offers

Cliff Matthews6'5" 220 lbs. 4.60 Cheraw (S.C.) High SchoolOriginally slated to make a verbal commitment this week,
Matthews had a change of heart and is now looking to take official visits
before making a pledge. Clemson, Georgia, UNC, and South Carolina are
destinations Matthews has mentioned.

A rush defensive end, Matthews uses his speed and quickness to get to the quarterback.

Recruited by: Danny Pearman

Carlos Dunlap6'5" 225 lbs. 4.70 North Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester High SchoolDunlap denies having any favorites and currently holds offers
from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida
State, NC State, UNC, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He plans to wait out
the season before naming a final five and taking official visits.

A tall, quick, rangy defensive end,
Dunlap is at his best rushing the quarterback. A very young prospect, Dunlap
will head into his senior football season at only 16 years old.

Slightly undersized, Euwell
is a true speed rusher. At UNC's camp, he ran a 40-yard dash believed to be in
the 4.5-range.

Recruited by: Kenny Browning

Also on Radar

Name

School

Ht

Wt

Fty

Tristan
Dorty

Mt. Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan HS

6-1

230

4.70

Tom Nardo

Lancaster (Pa.) Catholic HS

6-2

235

4.90

Daquan
Thomas

Yuma (Ariz.) Arizona Western JC

6-4

240

5.00

Romale Tucker

Washington (D.C.)
Coolidge HS

6-3

205

4.90

Tony Tucker

Washington (D.C.) St. Johns College HS

6-3

225

4.65

Tackle

2006 Depth Chart

#

Name

Ht

Wt

Cl/El

Rk

74

Kyndraus Guy

6-2

280

Sr/Jr

112 (OL)

75

Shelton Bynum

6-5

300

Sr/Sr

76

90

Kentwan Balmer

6-5

288

Jr/Jr

67

93

Cam Thomas

6-3

315

So/Fr

52

97

Aleric Mullins

6-3

285

Fr/Fr

31

96

Tavares Brown

6-0

275

Fr/Fr

78

95

Greg Elleby

6-4

260

Fr/Fr

NR

During the last recruiting class, North Carolina really stockpiled prospects for
this position, including an elite recruit in Mullins. With that said, the
coaching staff would like to ink at least one tackle and currently has a verbal
commitment from sleeper William Brimfield. The staff would – without a doubt –
still take another elite tackle, such as Tydreke Powell.

William Brimfield6'5" 290 lbs. 5.00
Neeses (S.C.) Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School

A true sleeper, Brimfield was discovered by assistant coach Danny Pearman. The
combination of a coaching change and playing at a smaller school kept
Brimfield off most recruiting lists.

After earning a scholarship offer with
his performance during UNC's individual rising senior camp in June, Brimfield
verbally committed to the Tar Heels. He cancelled future trips to any other
schools showing the firmness of his pledge.

Brimfield moves very well for a prospect of his size. He's quite coachable, and
showed a non-stop motor during one-on-one pass rushing drills.

As a junior at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High School, Brimfield was named to the all-region team
after accumulating 111 tackles, including 15 sacks and three fumble
recoveries.

Targets With Offers

Tydreke Powell6'4" 295 lbs. 5.00 Ahoskie (N.C.) Hertford County High SchoolPowell is currently in the process of narrowing down his list
of scholarship offers to a final five. Presently, Powell has named two to the
list -- Penn State and Miami. It appears very likely that UNC will grab one of
the remaining three spots -- especially since Powell is still considered a UNC
lean.

Powell has one of the most explosive first steps coming off the
ball. He was simply unstoppable during the pass rush drills at camps and combines.